DrewE's Alaska Trip Travelogue
I returned about a week ago from a marvelous ten-week trip to and through Alaska (and back) with my dear mother. I went in a 32' class C, actually about 35' overall with a bicycle rack on the back, w...
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Yes, there will be pictures! :)
We left the afternoon of July 5th. The first week was spent mostly on the Trans-Canada Highway heading towards Banff National Park.
July 5th -- We camped at Robert Moses State Park in Massena, NY. We arrived late and didn't stay too long in the morning, so I can't say much about this park. It did look nice and well-kept, as has been my experience at every New York state park I've camped at. There is a view of one of the locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway from the access road to the campground.
July 6th -- We crossed over into Ontario, Canada at Ogdensburg. We were subjected to a (quick and professional) vehicle search at the border, but had no problems nor a long delay. We camped at the very pretty Driftwood Provincial Park in Stonecliffe, ON.
Click For Full-Size Image.
(This picture was taken with a fisheye lens; the trees were not actually that bendy!)
Ontario is a very long province. Driving the Trans-Canada Highway across it seemed a bit like it would never end.
Click For Full-Size Image.
DrewE driving somewhere in Ontario
Click For Full-Size Image.
DrewE's dear mother driving, elsewhere in Ontario. As it turned out, I did the vast majority of the driving, but that's not at all a reflection on my mother's competence in driving.
July 7th -- Stayed at Chutes Provincial Park, Massey, ON
July 8th -- Stopped (I think for lunch) at a neat rest area on the Chippewa River that marks the approximate midpoint of the Trans-Canada Highway. There's a nice little waterfall, too.
Click For Full-Size Image.
Stayed at Neys Provincial Park, Marathon, ON
July 9th -- Stopped briefly at the Terry Fox roadside, outside of Thuder Bay. Besides the commemorative statue, there's a nice view of the sleeping giant, a rock formation out in the bay that's of cultural and religious importance to the first nation people in the area. To be honest, I couldn't really make out the outline of the giant very well.
Click For Full-Size Image.
This is Terry Fox, of course, not the sleeping giant.
Stayed at Blue Lake Provincial Park, Vermillion Bay, ON; saw a very pretty sunset over the bay.
Click For Full-Size Image.
July 10th -- Stopped at a little town park near a dam (I forget where) where there was a flock of pelicans. I hadn't previously been aware that they wander that far north.
Click For Full-Size Image.
Stayed at Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Glenboro, MB. Provincial route 5 between the Trans-Canada and the park was very, very rough; going around and approaching the park from the south (as we did, in reverse, when leaving) is strongly recommended. The mosquitoes were fairly bad on July 10th.
July 11th - 12th -- Stayed in the Lion's Club Campground, Broadview SK, and visited some family friends. Many of the small towns in the area have a campground run either by the municipality or by some fraternal or service organization. This particular one was very well maintained, with full hookups and absolutely immaculate bathroom/shower facilities.
July 13th -- Drove through Medicine Hat, and saw the giant tepee from the road. It's hard to miss.
Click For Full-Size Image.
There were a few bugs on the windshield at this point in time. A class C motorhome makes a passably good flyswatter!
After awhile on the plains, mountains come into view. The scenery along the Trans-Canada is varied, some a bit more interesting than others, but generally lovely. I preferred the hills and rocks of Ontario and the mountains towards the west to the prairies.
Click For Full-Size Image.
Stayed at Kinnebrook Island Provincial Park, Brooks, AB. As I recall, it was a bit of a maze through town to get to the park. While I don't have a picture of it, I saw here the only firewood vending machine I've ever run across. It looked vaguely like a dumpster with a bill acceptor attached to the side.
This was a pleasant leg of the trip, with good roads and overall quite good weather.
We left the afternoon of July 5th. The first week was spent mostly on the Trans-Canada Highway heading towards Banff National Park.
July 5th -- We camped at Robert Moses State Park in Massena, NY. We arrived late and didn't stay too long in the morning, so I can't say much about this park. It did look nice and well-kept, as has been my experience at every New York state park I've camped at. There is a view of one of the locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway from the access road to the campground.
July 6th -- We crossed over into Ontario, Canada at Ogdensburg. We were subjected to a (quick and professional) vehicle search at the border, but had no problems nor a long delay. We camped at the very pretty Driftwood Provincial Park in Stonecliffe, ON.
(This picture was taken with a fisheye lens; the trees were not actually that bendy!)
Ontario is a very long province. Driving the Trans-Canada Highway across it seemed a bit like it would never end.
DrewE driving somewhere in Ontario
DrewE's dear mother driving, elsewhere in Ontario. As it turned out, I did the vast majority of the driving, but that's not at all a reflection on my mother's competence in driving.
July 7th -- Stayed at Chutes Provincial Park, Massey, ON
July 8th -- Stopped (I think for lunch) at a neat rest area on the Chippewa River that marks the approximate midpoint of the Trans-Canada Highway. There's a nice little waterfall, too.
Stayed at Neys Provincial Park, Marathon, ON
July 9th -- Stopped briefly at the Terry Fox roadside, outside of Thuder Bay. Besides the commemorative statue, there's a nice view of the sleeping giant, a rock formation out in the bay that's of cultural and religious importance to the first nation people in the area. To be honest, I couldn't really make out the outline of the giant very well.
This is Terry Fox, of course, not the sleeping giant.
Stayed at Blue Lake Provincial Park, Vermillion Bay, ON; saw a very pretty sunset over the bay.
July 10th -- Stopped at a little town park near a dam (I forget where) where there was a flock of pelicans. I hadn't previously been aware that they wander that far north.
Stayed at Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Glenboro, MB. Provincial route 5 between the Trans-Canada and the park was very, very rough; going around and approaching the park from the south (as we did, in reverse, when leaving) is strongly recommended. The mosquitoes were fairly bad on July 10th.
July 11th - 12th -- Stayed in the Lion's Club Campground, Broadview SK, and visited some family friends. Many of the small towns in the area have a campground run either by the municipality or by some fraternal or service organization. This particular one was very well maintained, with full hookups and absolutely immaculate bathroom/shower facilities.
July 13th -- Drove through Medicine Hat, and saw the giant tepee from the road. It's hard to miss.
There were a few bugs on the windshield at this point in time. A class C motorhome makes a passably good flyswatter!
After awhile on the plains, mountains come into view. The scenery along the Trans-Canada is varied, some a bit more interesting than others, but generally lovely. I preferred the hills and rocks of Ontario and the mountains towards the west to the prairies.
Stayed at Kinnebrook Island Provincial Park, Brooks, AB. As I recall, it was a bit of a maze through town to get to the park. While I don't have a picture of it, I saw here the only firewood vending machine I've ever run across. It looked vaguely like a dumpster with a bill acceptor attached to the side.
This was a pleasant leg of the trip, with good roads and overall quite good weather.
